The Grand Prix of space missions
BBC

Ferrari has proved itself to be the best racing team on Earth and now it is headed for Mars. A blob of the mark’s famous red paint sealed inside a tiny glass globe is to travel to the fourth planet on Europe’s Mars Express mission. The link with Ferrari marks a new move by Esa to get more Europeans interested in space. David Southwood, the director of science at Esa, said Europe would be going to nine celestial bodies in the next decade. “This is a serious programme and Mars will open the door,” he said.